Arm Injury Compensation Claims*

Types of Injuries | by Simon McGarr
Arm injury claim illustration of arms used under creative commons licence

The most common causes of an arm injury claim are road traffic accidents and accidents at work, particularly involving machinery. Arm injuries include muscle strain, contusion, crush injuries, fractures and tendon and nerve injuries.

The upper arm consists of the humerus, while the forearm consists of the radius and the ulna. The radius and ulna permit the positioning of the hand, the ulna stabilizing the radius as it rotates. This rotation is critical to the full use of the forearm. Its loss is very serious. The consequences of an arm injury may be severe. They include:

  • Fracture
  • Pain
  • Muscle ache
  • Stiffness
  • Loss of function

An arm injury claim can occur even without an “accident”. Overuse of muscles or postural problems may cause the injury. (Repetitive strain injury –- “RSI” — is usually associated with the arm or hand. It is a duty of an employer to ensure that their employees have both a safe place of work and a safe system of work and that neither is likely to cause injury.)

Fractures of the elbow are common in slips and falls. Careful diagnosis and treatment of this type of injury is crucial, as the nerve and vascular systems may be involved. The symptoms of an arm injury may last a very long time and can be very debilitating. They can disrupt ordinary life, preventing the patient from doing usual household tasks or going to work.

Compensation for an Arm Injury Claim

The Personal Injuries Board estimates that compensation for a minor arm injury is up to €14,800. For what is termed a “moderate dislocation” of a person’s arm, which is still classed as a serious ongoing condition, compensation is estimated between €20,200 and €54,600. Losing one arm, or both arms, is estimated between €111,000 and €145,000.

Regardless of the nature of a person’s arm injury, it will always need to be assessed by a medically qualified person in order to allow them to write a Medical Report. This report forms the basis of any Injuries Board or PIAB claim initially.